Paper and envelope dispensing apparatus



F. R. LACY Pun; AND' ENVELOPE DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15. 1921 Dec. 8,1925 1.564.249

F-, R. LACY PiER AND ENVELOPE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 19 21 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 8, 1925. 1,564,249

F. R. LACY PAPER AND ENVELOPE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 13. 1921 4 Slie'ets-Sheet a DOG. 8, F. R. LACY PAPER AND ENVELOPE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 13, 1921 4 Sheets$heet 4 a w a Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

FRANK n. LACY, OF CHICAGO, rnnnvorsnssrenon TO EMIL H. snnMAn, or cHieAGo, ILLINOIS.

IPAPER'AND ENVELOPE DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Application filed August 13, 1821.

To (ZZZ 20710122 it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK It. LACY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Paper and Envelope Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to paper and envelope dispensing apparatus.

The primary aim of this invention is to incorporate in a simple, compact and practicable structural unit, mechanism for dispensing letter sheets and envelopes, or other similar articles, the device being designed particularly for use in hotels and other public places for containing the hotel stationary for convenience of guests.

It is a further aim of this invention to construct a device of the character suggested which comprises among other things,

separate containers for the envelopes and paper, all assembled in a neat housing, suitable for use as a portable desk, which may 5 be placed at a convenient point in the hotel lobby or in the rooms, and which contains a comparatively simple yet durable and ancient dispensing mechanism capable of manufacture at low cost, and requiring no attention other than occasional replenishing.

Among other features and aims which will appear from the detail description is the provision of an inclined cover for use as a Writing surface, and upon which may be placed advertisements, and instructions or information for the house guests.

A still further aim of the invention is f to provide a device of the character sug gested in which the dispensing mechanisms are independent units, and when repairs become necessary, may be quickly removed as units to receive the necessary attention, so that an operative mechanism may be insertcd in place of one to be repaired, thus materially shortening the length of time of retirement of the device for repairs.

WVh ile the invention will be later described as pertaining to a paper and envelope dispensing device, it will be obvious that it is not limited in its adaptation to this use, but may be employed in connection with any desirable coin controlled mechanism for use in vending paper, envelopes and other like articles.

Other aims and advantages, and a more Serial No. 491,976.

concrete understanding of this invention may be obtained from'the followlng detail description and the claims, taken with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View of the device, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View taken on line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure a is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the bearing and a portion of the propelling'device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of one of the trackways taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tray or platen member.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a detail part. I

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 3, show-ing a modified form of propelling device.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective of the bearing employed in the modification (Figures 8 and 9).

Figure 11 is afragmentary perspective view of a modification of the tray raising mechanism.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 5, ofthe same modification (Figure 11).

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and especially to Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, this invention embodies preferably, a housing 5, of any suitable material, in the present instance, wood, properly finished to present a neat appearance. The housing preferably comprises a base 6, vertical side walls 7 and 8, and front and rear walls 9 and 10, respectively. The walls are cut off square at 11 to receive the front and rear walls 12 and 13, and side walls 1st.

respectively, of a cover 15, the rear wall 13 being connected to the rear wall 10 by a suitable hinge 16. As shown best in Figure 2, the cover is inclined toward the front, and is provided on its upper surface with a frame 1. carrying a glass plate 18, serving as a writing surface, or to contain ad YQitiSli'lg matter therobeneath.

To the under surface near one side of the cover is secured a bracket 19 having pivotal connection at 20 with a link 21, provided with a slot 22, through which passes a screw or pin 23 engaging the adjacent side walls of the housing, a suitable washer 24 being disposed between the head of the pin and the link. This pin frictionally holds the cover and limits the distance open of the same. A suitable look (not shown) for securing the cover closed may be provided.

Reference may now be had to the dispensing mechanisms. A pair of these are provided, sul'istantially identical in construction, with few exceptions, which will be noted later; and for this reason but one will be described. One of the dispensing devices delivers GHVQlOPGS and the other delivers letter sheets, the latter being described in detail and shown to the right in Figure 1. Of course, the relative positions of these devices in the houisng is of no material moment.

First referring to Figures 1 and 2, the dispensing device comprises a metallic container or housing 25, substantially rectangular, having a bottom 26 secured to the base (5 by screws 27, vertical side walls 28 and 29, inclined parallel front and rear walls 30 and 31, respectively, and open at the top. The container is constructed in any conventional manner of heavy stiff sheet metal and carries therein or attached thereto the entire dispensing mechanism as a unit. The front and rear walls are inclined for a purpose which will become evident as this description proceeds.

Along the side walls 28 and 29, and parallel to the inclined walls 30 and 31, are disposed four traclzways, two on each side wall, and all identical in construction. But One will therefore be described. In this connection, reference will also be had to Figure and it will. be seen that the trackway coinprises a. tubular column 32, secured in propor position upon the respective side wall by means of bolts 33, said column having a longitudinal slot 34 in one side thereof presented toward the interior of the container. A. helical expansion spring 35 is arranged axially within the column and seats in the base 36 thereof. The upper end of the spring encircles the flange 37 of a square cap 38 which latter fits snugly within the col umn.

A tray or platen 39 fits loosely within the container, upon transverse rods 40-40, the free ends of said rods extending through the slots and engaging the tops of the caps 88, so that upward pressure is always maintained upon the tray. The rods are preferably loosely mounted, though, if desired, may be secured to the caps, by soldering. In order to prevent entire displacement of the tray from the rods, but permit ]ateral movement thereof relative the rods, a pair of wire brackets 41, is secured to the under surface of the tray, as by soldering, for receiving one of the rods, and a third wire bracket 42 is secured also to the under surface of the tray at approxin'iately the medial portion of the same for embracing the other rod. It will thus be seen that upward and forward movement of the tray will occur H due to the pressure exerted by the springs, as the stack of sheets 43 are removed or dispensed therefrom by the propelling device to be described presently.

The container 25 is of such depth and other dimensions as to readilyaccommodate, upon the tray when depressed, several hundred sheets of letter paper, the uppermost sheet being always exposed, as shown in Figure 2, for engagement with the dispensing device.

The dispensing device may best be seen in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive and comprises a tubular shaft 44, closed at its ends by plugs 45 and 46, the former plug having a split end 47, receiving the reduced end 48 of a trunnion 49, the members 47 and 48 being pivotally connected by a pin 50. The trunnion 49, as best shown in Figure 3, is reduced to pass through a bearing 51, secured in any suit-able or desired manner in an opening in the side wall of the housing. Figure 3, of course, illustrates the propeller of the envelope device, but is substantially identical with the propeller of the sheet dispensing device. The free end of the trunnion projects beyond the side wall and is threaded to receive a knurled handle 52.

The trunnion 49 is provided with a pinrality of notches 53 for reception of the free end 54 of a pawl 55, pivoted at 56 on a plate 57, the latter being secured by screws 58 to the inner surface of the side wall of the housing. The pawl prevents reverse rotation of the shaft 44.

The plug 46 is provided with a reduced integral trunnion 59, rotatably seated in a U-shaped bearing 60, secured to the side wall 28 of the container, said trunnion extending into a registering opening in a spring tongue 61, thus preventing displace ment of the shaft. The pivot permits the shaft to be swung upwardly when replenishing the container, a spring aw 62 being se cured to an extension 63 of the plate 57 and adapted to grasp the shaft 44 when raised.

In the case of the propeller for the letter sheets, a hexagonal wheel 64 of stiff rubber is disposed on the shaft 44 and provided with tubular extensions 65, which insure a secure grip of the wheel on the shaft, the high points 66 of the wheel coming into dirent contact with the uppermost sheet and frictionally engaging the same to deliver the same from the container when rotated in the direction of the arrow a, Figure 2.

The shaft 4st of the envelope dispensing device is provided with two wheels 67-457, similar to the wheel 64, so'that a more even distribution of propelling force is'attained. If desired two wheels may be used in the letter sheet device.

Both of the containers are provided with weighted plates 68, pivoted at 69 to brackets 70 secured to the rear walls of the respective container. Handles 71 are provided on the plates for raising the same out of the way when replenishing the containers.

The containers, at their forward top edges are provided each with an outlet comprising as shown in Figure 2, a plate 7 2 lying between the side walls of the container and adjacent the front upper edge of the front wall thereof to form a slot 73 directly behind and registering with an opening 7a formed in the front wall 9 of the housing, the upper part of the front wall 30 of the container imi'i'iediately adjacent the slot 73 being sharply inclined outwardly to facilitate raising of the edge of the sheet being delivered, as best shown in Figure 2.

Both of the dispensing devices are provided with means for maintaining the platens depressed during replenishing, said means comprising, in each case, as best shown in Figure 2, a vertical rod 75, rotatable in bearings 76 on the side wall 28, the top free end of the rod being bent to form a handle 77, and the lower free end being bent to form an arm 78 adapted to engage a strap 79 secured to but spaced from the bottom of the tray. Of course, this is not an indispensable part of the device.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 to 10, inclusive, those parts common to the form previously described are indicated by similar reference characters, the aim here being to provide a different drive and bearing mounting for the propeller shaft. Here it will be seen that the shaft 14 is mounted at one end in a bearing plate 80 secured to the side wall 7, by screws passed through suitable openings 81 in said plate, the plate having a recess 82 for reception of the end of the shaft and provided with a tubular extension 83 lying within the wall and forming a bearing for the trunnion 84:, said trunnion 84: projecting beyond the wall and carrying a knurled nut 85 for manipulation. The inner end of the trunnion 84 is reduced and carries a pinion 86, meshing with a like pinion 87 carried by the end of the shaft 4 L supported in the plate 80. A pawl 88, pivoted to the plate 80, prevents reverse rotation of the trunnion. The parts rotate freely in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 9.

Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, i will be observed that here a weight is employed for raising the tray, the device comprising, with the tray 89, rods 4.0, and tubular column 32, a pulley 89 jo-urnaled near the top of the column 32, over which pulley is trained a cable 90, carrying a weight 91 on one nd within the column and connected at the other end with one end of one of the rods 40, the end ofthe rod being flattened at 40' and extending into the slot Set in the column. The columns and tray are mounted in the container similarly to these elements in the form of the invention previously described and are similarly operable.

While a specific structure has been described, it will, of course, be understood that I reserve the right to make minor changes in the details thereof within the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing device, a housin a container in said housing having parallel inclined end walls, a vertically operable tray in said container, means for raising the tray, said tray carrying a plurality of superposed sheets, a rotary shaft on said container above the tray, a friction wheel on said shaft and adapted to engage successively said sheets and deliver the same through a suitable opening in said housing, said shaft having a hinge joint therein and extending through the housing and means on the outer end of the shaft for manipulating the same.

2. In a dispensing device, a housing, a container in said housing having parallel inclined end walls, a vertically operable tray in said container, means for raising the tray, said tray carrying a plurality of superposed sheets, a rotary shaft on said container above the tray, a friction wheel on said shaft and adapted to engage successively said sheets and deliver the same through a suitable opening in said housing, said shaft having a hinge joint therein permittin said shaft to be raised out of operative position, and means for maintaining said shaft in raised position.

3. The combination with a cabinet having a delivery slot, of a springprcssed follower in the cabinet to support and lift the pile, a sectional operating shaft parallel with and above the follower; the inner member of which shaft is hinged at one end to the outer or operating member to swing vertically away from the follower to admit of a pile of sheets or the like being placed thereon, and a feed roll on said swinging member.

at. A delivery cabinet having a vertically movable lid, a horizontal spring-elevated follower to support a pile of sheets or the like; a horizontal delivery slot being provided in the cabinet front near its upper edge, and a transverse vertically movable feed shaft journaled in the upper edge of the cabinet below the lid parallel with said slot and overlying the follower and having a feed roll against which sheets or the like are pressed by the follower; whereby when the lid is raised the feed shaft may be moved from the follower when a pile is to be placed thereon.

5. A delivery cabinet having a vertically movable lid, a horizontal spring-elevated follower to support a pile of sheets or the like; a horizontal delivery slot being provided near the top edge of the cabinet front and a transverse shaft below the lid and having a feed roll against which the follower presses the sheets or the like; said shaft having an external operating device and bearings for the shaft, one of which is open to permit the shaft to be moved away from the follower when a pile of sheets or the like is to be inserted.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signa ture at 36 \V. Randolph St, Chicago, Illinois.

FRANK R. LACY. 

